Reviews summary

25
Traveller reviews from Holiday Watchdog

Riu belplayer

2

Poor

by Charlee

Reviewed Tue 30th of June 2015

"Sun beds not cleaned, pool area not cleaned.chairs on veranda not clean. Dinning room flys all over,dinning room dangerous setup needs reorganizing,was put in room overlooking garden so could not open door as room got fill of fly's and mozzys. Could always get sun beds, have stayed in Bali Hotel Benalmadena 3 star same standards much cheaper and Bali rooms much better."

Holiday details

Travel date: Sat 13th of June 2015

Rating breakdown

3
Location

5
Beach

1
Room

1
Pool

1
Service

1
Value

2
Food

1
Cleanliness

Bel Player

5

Brilliant

by Mackem

Reviewed Wed 2nd of June 2010

"We stayed at the BelPlayer between 9-23 march 2010.

Could not fault the hotel Food Rooms service first rate.

Downside we booked with Thompsons and we never received a welcome pack also in the two weeks at this hotel the thomson rep did not visit once, The german rep for thompson visited most days, mind the hotel was 95% german but that's not a problem.

Ray @ Pat"

Holiday details

Travel date: Mon 31st of May 2010

Rating breakdown

3
Beach

5
Room

4
Pool

5
Service

5
Dining

3
Amenities

5
Food

The rui Bel playa was of a very high sta...

5

Brilliant

by DOUGLASÂ FERGUSON

Reviewed Sat 9th of August 2008

"The rui Bel playa was of a very high standard, food excellent lots and lots of choice and cooked fresh, great views over the beach from the 7th floor, nearby taxi rank, bus stop. multi lingual staff, who were very helpful.Travel agent just across road for booking trips car hire ect.If you havent been to Gibraltar I recomend booking both the tour and shoping trip."

Holiday details

Travel date: Sat 9th of August 2008

just back from rui bel playa, the hotel...

4

Good

by M Cairns

Reviewed Thu 31st of July 2008

"just back from rui bel playa, the hotel is wonderful and the staff cannot do enough for you. On the downside the air conditioning is the pitts there was no british people at the hotel and the entertainment was not even worth mentioning as there is little to none. the hotel food is very good and a great choice but you should be prepared to go out after dinner or stay at the hotel and amuse yourself but as i said it is a lovely hotel that just needs the air conditioning to be better and the entertainment too."

Holiday details

Travel date: Thu 31st of July 2008

Just had two weeks at the Belplaya. Hot...

4

Good

by K Rist

Reviewed Mon 30th of June 2008

"Just had two weeks at the Belplaya. Hotel spotless and staff very friendly and courteous. Food quality good. Pool area excellent - overlooking the beach and a sun trap. Main reception and bar / restaurant areas kept in good order. Area round the hotel very clean with a few local bars and a couple of local shops.
However, the downsides were the bedrooms which have carpets in them. In 30 plus degrees of heat they do not give the coolness of marble floors (air con in the rooms which worked), however personally think marble floors are healthier. Plus the bathrooms are very small and jaded.
No Thomson notice boards in English in the hotel, they were all in German and plenty of attendance by the German rep who we noted on numerous occasions in the reception area, but little by the English Rep.
Nice litle bar called Tony's opposite the hotel entrance. Plenty of Chiringuitos along the promenade. 5 euros for a taxi into Torremolions shopping centre and about an hours walk back to the hotel down San Miguel street onto the beach front (if you are fairly active).
In conclusion a good hotel in a quiet location which is ideal if you are happy to stay local. You need to taxi to any of the busier areas. Would certainly recommend for a weeks break where you purely want to laze around and go nowhere.
Hotel has four stars and to be honest have been in a lot better four stars with far better quality of bedroom facilities."

Holiday details

Travel date: Mon 30th of June 2008

just had a 5 night stay in the riu belpl...

5

Brilliant

by CLARK

Reviewed Wed 27th of February 2008

"just had a 5 night stay in the riu belplaya hotel beautiful and spotless clean only downside was the shower kept running cold. food was nice enough but i have got to say it was more to suit german tastes. staff were lovely and there were a few nice touches like glass orange juice while checking in and the 1 day we had at the pool as it rained every other day a waitress came round offering everyone melon. all in all we would go back to this hotel but we will choose summer this time and hopefully get sunshine."

Holiday details

Travel date: Wed 27th of February 2008

We have just returned from a 3 day break...

5

Brilliant

by H Bennett

Reviewed Mon 14th of January 2008

"We have just returned from a 3 day break at the Riu Bel Playa and are so impressed that we have to spread the word!

The food was excellent and so much of it! The cleanliness, staff service, and facilities 10/10 too!

The only criticism is that some of the items in the mini bar were out of date, which was hardly a catastrophe!

Fantastic, and we would certainly go there or to another hotel in the group again."

Holiday details

Travel date: Mon 14th of January 2008

Our 4th visit to this hotel this year &...

5

Brilliant

by PÂ Jones

Reviewed Sat 5th of January 2008

"Our 4th visit to this hotel this year & it is still as good.

We had 12 days including Xmas & New Year so we had both the gala dinners.

The food is always excellent but the gala dinners were something else!

It was my wife's birthday during our stay and that evening our table had special place mats, a candle and a complementary bottle of champagne. The staff must have found out it was her birthday from her passport as we had not requested this ourselves.

I would not hesitate to recommend this hotel - in fact I am just checking out flights for April as we intend to go again, this time with two friends.

"

Holiday details

Travel date: Sat 5th of January 2008

Been going to this hotel for about 30 ye...

5

Brilliant

by Â AÂ Hickman

Reviewed Fri 17th of August 2007

"Been going to this hotel for about 30 years it just gets better; the staff are brilliant and have become friends over the years. Itâs nice to be a bit out of the main town area but a very good bus service to and from Torremolinos is available just a few minutes walk away from hotel, there is also a taxi rank outside the hotel or the reception staff are very happy to ring a taxi for you.

The rooms are spotless and large compared to other hotels in the area. The beach is just over the road, with nice beach restaurants as well.

Overall this is a first class hotel, it would be hard to find a better one.
"

Holiday details

Travel date: Fri 17th of August 2007

The Best, Cheap Four Star Hotel Around!!!

5

Brilliant

by huntrob01

Reviewed Wed 14th of November 2012

"The hotel is magnificent and clean. The staff were friendly and helpful. Although the hotel has 1 indoor and 1 outdoor pool I did n't have time to swim, I was to busy exploring!!!

The good thing with my booking was the half-board, the only thing you had to worry about was missing lunch, not a problem.
The breakfast was good enough to keep you going until dinner, and the dinner was a 3 course affair.

I was very lucky with my travel agent to find this hotel, I will definately go back. Of course everything else is extra, massage, drinks, calls, etc. (All of these things cost extra anyway.)

Now here are some tips; if you get a taxi thats fine from malaga airport to the hotel it will only cost you 15 euros. The nearest train stop is La Colina and is only five minutes away (head towards the beach) train journey will only cost you 1.50 euro but will take 30 minutes compared to 10-15 minutes by taxi.

Oh! 1 very important note!!!

If you decide to go on the free excursions, book early (immediately, right away, the instant you get in you hotel room!).

The only drawback is you have to listen to 1 hour of boring selling pitch, but after that the trip is free. (there's also a free drink!)

If you decide to pay for you excursions, expect to pay from 45-75 euros (depends on the excursion), for example, the gibraltar dolphin tour is the most popular and the most expensive.....

That's all folks"

Holiday details

Travel date: Wed 23rd of May 2007

Couldnât wait to record that this hote...

5

Brilliant

by RÂ Randall

Reviewed Tue 15th of May 2007

"Couldnât wait to record that this hotel is just great.

And, having had many 4 star holidays, this hotel can be justly proud to be well up to standard on food, staff, comfort, position to fine beach, good poolside, availability to public transport and taxi rank.

You must use the local railway along the coast, it is brilliant and cheap.

You can even achieve getting to Granada by public bus transport for a day at the Alhambra Palace and magnificent gardens....a must.

The only downside was that when we were there it was mostly Germans, so making friends was difficult."

Holiday details

Travel date: Tue 15th of May 2007

South to the sun

5

Brilliant

by PeteJersey

Reviewed Thu 13th of December 2012

"Stayed at this hotel February 19th - 27th 2007
Desperate for an escape from the cold, grey weather of the UK myself and a friend took the plunge and booked an online deal to this hotel on the Costa del Sol.

Arrived at Malaga Airport and took a taxi to the hotel (which is closer to the airport than Malaga). This cost 15 Euros and is the standard price, one way. There is a very convenient taxi rank on the road next to the hotel.

Reception: Courteous, efficient, smooth check in procedure and we were welcomed with a glass of fresh cool orange juice. Even better, as we were having seperate rooms, I was given a free upgrade!

Restaurant: Very impressed with the range and standard of the food both at breakfast and dinner (buffet style, hot and cold). Spotlessly clean and the decor was bright and cheerful. The staff ,at all levels, were very professional and although busy, were friendly and made an effort to accomodate their customers wishes.

The Bar: Interesting, lavishly decorated cocktails. Fair range of other drinks (including coffees - which are not available in the restauant after the evening meal). Prices are hotel prices and certainly drinks are cheaper in the bars outside the hotel but you don`t always want to go out. Apart from one night, there was entertainment of one kind or another in the bar area.

Hotel Grounds: I was very impressed with the cleanliness on the walkways, the pool area and the grassed areas.

General: Most of the visitors at the hotel were aged 50 and upwards (us included) although there were some younger people and a few families with children. Generally, this made for a fairly quiet environment within and in the area outside the hotel, which suited us well. No "lager louts" in sight!!

Location: About a mile outside Torremolinos town. The train station is about an 8 or 9 minute easy walk away, behind the hotel and this (very cheaply) takes you into the centre of Torremolinos. The line runs from Malaga to Fuengirola and trains run every half an hour. You buy your tickets from the machine on the platform. You can also catch a bus just along the road from the hotel or you can walk along the promenade. The only problem with walking is that when you get to Torremolinos it is on a hill so you have to be prepared to go up a lot of steps - someone said 300!

Yes, we did get the sun after a very grey and wet day of arrival and I did return home with a suntan. The temperature ranged from 18 to 21 degrees during the main part of the day.

Would I come back to this hotel? Definitely, at this time of the year or maybe Autumn but not during the Summer holiday season when I think the surrounding area would be too busy for my liking."